In September 2010 I will start studying “Applied Theatre (Drama in the Community and Drama Education)” at the Central School of Speech and Drama in London. On this blog I will share my experiences and the lessons I will most certainly learn. My goal is to provide a lively document about the width and depth of applied drama.

In this first post I will explain more about the contents of my studies and my motivation to move to London for them.

What is applied drama?

Applied Drama (or Applied Theatre) is the unconventional use of theatre, outside of the official theatres, close to communities. The word ‘Applied’ in ‘Applied Theatre/Drama’ implies that the use of drama is aimed at something or someone. This means there’s a common belief that the practice of theatre must and will benefit individuals, communities and societies.

In Applied Drama, the theatrical practices and creative processes generally (though not always) take place in everyday settings, such as schools, prisons, day centres, and community buildings. I like this off-site element in particular, since I believe that especially in these non-theatre venues the true theatre of life takes place.

The words “theatre” or “drama” are used interchangeably and there is a wide diversity of practices, spread over different fields: theatre in prisons, theatre and disability, young people’s theatre, drama in the community, drama education, theatre in health education, theatre for development, etc. Each field has its own specific theories, discourses and practices.

All forms of Applied Theatre/Drama have in common that they share an intention to realise social or community change, also known as empowerment. The use of theatre makes it possible to reveal the (hidden) stories of a community. Hence, it is extremely important that the theatre or drama has a participatory nature and encompasses a social dialogue.

“The theatre is applied, because it becomes a medium for action, for reflection, for transformation – a theatre in which new modes of being can be encountered and new possibilities for humankind can be imagined.” (Taylor, 2003).

Applied Theatre at the Central School of Speech and Drama in London

The masters Applied Theatre at the Central School of Speech and Drama teaches its students about the different ways in which drama and theatre can be used, in order to benefit a range of different groups. The study focuses on a variety of uses of theatre, as I’ve explained above. Special attention is given to hands-on learning. This means that from the onset students learn from real-life situations at placements in host organisations in the field.

“The Central School of Speech and Drama describes the practice of applied theatre as ‘intervention, communication, development, empowerment and expression when working with individuals or specific communities.” (Nicholson, 2005).

Why did I decide to study Applied Theatre?

Throughout my life, theatre has offered me – and still offers me – unlimited imagination and expression of my most inner thoughts and feelings, regardless of where I am and where I’m from. Therefore, choosing Applied Drama as a Masters is a direct result of my personal mission, stating that in my life, I wish to give people access to all that theatre has given me. I can’t wait to give other people the opportunity to express themselves using theatre, especially those that are not self-evidently included in society. To work as a professional to facilitate this process, in prisons, education, community centres, elderly care institutions, and many others, would be a dream coming true.

Furthermore, my background as an academic researcher, teacher, trainer and consultant over the past five years has made me realise there is great potential in the combination of my professional skills and my creative background in theatre. I am eager to learn how to further develop and combine these two!

Why London?

The only appropriate answer to this question is: where else?

Studying the application of theatre in such a vibrant theatre city as London will only add to my knowledge and understanding of theatre. Moreover, Applied Theatre has an established tradition in the UK. The practice of theatre in education in the United Kingdom is more common than anywhere else in the world (see Nicholson 2009, p. 37). Therefore, I feel that the UK is the place to be to learn more about Applied Theatre, both in practice in diverse organization that work in the UK with Applied Theatre as in the research taken place at several universities in the UK (see for instance the Centre for Applied Theatre Research at the University of Manchester).

What can you expect from this blog?

I will post regular updates on workshops, lectures, conferences, individual and group sessions related to Applied Drama and its many uses. Together with you, I hope to build a rich document on Applied Drama. If you’d like to learn more, please follow my blog and feel free to add comments or contact me! Happy reading!

References:

• Nicholson, H. (2009) “Theatre & Education.” Hampshire: Palgrave Macmillan
• Nicholson, H. (2005) “Applied Drama. The gift of theatre.” Hampshire: Palgrave Macmillan
• Prentki, T. and Preston, S. (2009) “The Applied Theatre Reader.” New York: Routledge.

Photo by Hyzhak on Flickr.